This is helping me know what to do. Q. How do I know when it is time to "put my animal to sleep?" A. When we assist an animal to die, we are really doing so at their request. Animals know when they are dying. They are not afraid of death, at least not in the sense that we people are. Nearing death, they come to a place of acceptance and try to communicate that to us. Not surprisingly, because of our own grief, sadness, and distress at losing them, we may be unable to receive that message. So, while they may not fear their own death, they may, because of their deep attachment to us, be worried about how we will get along without them. After all, for most pets the most important thing in their lives is our happiness and they feel personally responsible for that. Our job becomes hearing the message they are trying to tell us. “I am ready to go and I would be grateful for your help.” Sometimes they are simply asking us to be at the same level of understanding and acceptance as they are so they can be at peace. Sometimes they are asking for help to ease the way. Discerning the difference requires work from us. No one is in as good a position to know your animal as you are. You share a close bond that has enabled you to understand one another completely. First of all, trust yourself. Your pet does. The hardest part is setting aside the distress you are feeling; it can cloud your ability to hear clearly with your heart the message you are being sent. Quiet your fears. Be close beside one another. Talk either aloud or silently. Listen. There are clues, too. You know some of these already. * Stops eating and/or drinking * Hiding, choosing to be alone and apart * Changes in normal behavior * Obvious debilitating consequences of disease or extreme age * Unable to do favorite things (play ball, chase squirrels, tussle with the other pets, groom fastidiously, jump to high perches, etc.) * Evidence of pain that can’t be alleviated * Shame at house soiling from incontinence or incapacity You may see some—or none—of these.
Posted on: Sun, 30 Jun 2013 20:56:16 +0000
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